Halloween and Dia De Los Meurtos, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (Wednesday, October 31st, 2018)

We've always been curious about Halloween in Mexico.  Do they celebrate it, or don't they.  We know that Dia De Los Muertos is a huge celebration, but just never understood how or if they go together.  So this year we had the opportunity to find out.

And what we discovered is....Halloween is huge, at least in Puerto Vallarta.  We think this might be because of the huge expat influence in this city.  

In order to get a good table at a restaurant on Halloween night, you have to have a reservation.  The expats are out in force at all of the restaurants handing out candy and trinkets to all of the kids.  The kids don't trick or treat from house to house at all, it just at the restaurants along the Malecon or at least close by.

The amphitheater on the Malecon was also packed.  We aren't sure if it was a Halloween show or a Dia De Los Muertos show, but it was very popular.

All along the Malecon were Dia De Los Muertos statues.

This picture gives you a better perspective.  These statues are huge!

There were alters set up all over town as well.  Some were in businesses, and some were out on the street.

We didn't get front row seats at our restaurant because we didn't realize that a reservation was required, but we were still managed to get some pictures of the huge crowds on the Malecon and the Dia De Los Muertos parade that went by. 

We enjoyed our shrimp fajitas in the relative quiet of our second floor restaurant.

And then headed back out into the crowds of the night.  Unfortunately, we didn't last long, it was a little overwhelming for small town folks like us.  So before long we were heading back toward the solitude of our hotel for the rest of Halloween night.

As we made our way back, the pirate ship shot off it's fireworks, just as it does every night down by the Malecon.

What a fantastic night, enjoying Halloween and Dia De Los Muertos festivities in Puerto Vallarta with the locals.  We had no idea what a huge combined celebration this is and are so glad we got to experience it.